July 31, 1863 — Although the concept of eye-for-an-eye punishment seems medieval now, it was in practice during the Civil War. In fact, black and white POWs were often punished or killed to even a score.

Upset by this, President Lincoln issued the historic “eye for an eye” order today, warning the Confederacy that the Union would shoot a rebel prisoner for every black prisoner shot — and would condemn a rebel prisoner to a life of hard labor for every black prisoner sold into slavery.

Lincoln’s General Order No. 252 had a restraining influence on Confederate government; however, individual commanders and soldiers continued to murder captured black soldiers.

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In The News

CNN, September 19, 2017 — On CNN today, the Students Opposing Slavery Summit at President Lincoln’s Cottage was featured with the headline, “Students take up Lincoln’s fight to end slavery: Teens from around the world attended the Students Opposing Slavery Summit, held at the cottage where Abraham Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation.” Read More…

History Matters

July 11, 2017, Architectural Digest —Reporter Nick Mafi explains, “Liberty Hall Museum — which is located on the campus of Kean University, one of New Jersey’s largest state schools — has been going through an extensive renovation,” with the goal of recreating each era of history. Recently, the museum “discovered several cases of Madeira wine from 1796 that had been shipped from Portugal for the celebration of John Adams’ presidency. Read More…